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IRI Director brings Albania’s interfaith experience to Baku Forum

Dr. Arben Ramkaj, the chairman of the Inter-Religious Cooperation Center QBNF and the Executive Director of the Albanian Institute for Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Dialogue was invited to the 6th World Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. Governments, international organizations, researchers and thought leaders have gathered for the 6th edition of the World …

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Serious accident, the Italian tourist loses control of the motorcycle and collides with a car

A car accident happened this morning on the entrance road of the city of Saranda. The motorcycle driven by an Italian tourist collided with a vehicle and as a result went off the road. It is learned that the tourist suffered minor injuries and was transported to Saranda Hospital for …

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Serious accident in Tirana/ An police oficer loses control of the vehicle and ends up in Lana River

An accident was recorded around 06:15 at the Shkoza bridge in Tirana. The police officer of the “Shqiponja” Special Force Sector, driving the service vehicle, allegedly lost control over his direction and as a result the vehicle went off the road, falling into the Lana River. The driver of the …

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Minister of Justice: To strengthen the protection of national security and the fight against terrorism

The Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, has presented the recommendations of the Council of Ministers for the General Prosecutor’s Office in the fight against criminality throughout the year 2024. He asked for more inter-institutional cooperation and close cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, but also with organizations such as Europol …

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Minister Manja: The new Penal Code is necessary, at the request of Brussels

“Strengthening institutional cooperation inside and outside the country remains the main focus”, said the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, as he asked for more commitment to criminality. Minister Manja has also stated that the preparation of a New Criminal Code is necessary, while underlining that something similar is also required …

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Operation PANDORA shuts down 12 phone fraud call centres

According to Europol 39 fraudsters organised flood of unsettling telephone scams, shocking and cheating thousands of victims In the early hours of 18 April 2024, German, Albanian, Bosnian-Herzegovinian, Kosovar and Lebanese police forces raided 12 call centres identified as the source of thousands of daily scam calls. 21 persons were …

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The Roof Garden Commission: Petrit Halilaj, Abetare

Kosovar artist Petrit Halilaj (born 1986, Kostërc,Kosova ) has been commissioned to create a site-specific installation for the Museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. For the artist’s first major project in the United States, Halilaj has transformed The Met Roof with a sprawling sculptural installation.  Halilaj’s work is …

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Balla: We will increase the salaries for Police employees

The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, in a statement to the media, confirmed that from July 1st, there will be a salary increase for Guard employees. Balla added that this financial assessment comes from the fund in the state budget of 400 million dollars, which will also benefit employees …

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Ali Ahmeti “Honorary Citizen” of Tirana

At the proposal of the mayor Erion Veliaj, the City Council of Tirana has approved the awarding of the title of “Honorary Citizen” to the chairman of the Democratic Union for Integration, Ali Ahmeti. This title was granted to Ali Ahmeti as a sign of thanks for all his contribution …

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Investments in airports are increasing/ Balluku: We expect a 10 percent increase in flights

The International Airport of Tirana has increased the capacities for the reception of tourists. From the Assembly, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, emphasized that during this year a significant increase in flights is expected in our country. Meanwhile, at the end of the year, the …

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Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News
Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News
Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News
Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News
The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …